Elevated electric railway.



No. 845,459. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907. V

J. M. GILSTRAP.

ELEVATED ELEGTRIO RAILWAY.

APPLIUATION IILED mum, 190s.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- I a n 1, W$WZ PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907.

J. M. GILSTRAP.

ELEVATED ELECTRIC RAILWAY. APPLICATION FILED JULYSI, 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 845,459. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907.

' J. M. GILSTRAP.

ELEVATED ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY31, 19 06.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.50 II -II II I X 60 70 A o 0 60 7 5.9 57 6f 07 T5. 54 l W1 in eon:

tau/1 4w W No. 845,459. PATEN'I'BD FEB. 25, 1907. J. M. GILSTRAP.

ELEVATED ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED JULYBI, 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1E0. 845,459. PATENTED PEB.26, 1907.

J. M. GILSTRAP. ELEVATED ELECTRIC RAILWAY:

APPLIUATION FILED JULYSl, 1906.

5 SHEETS-SEE 5.

(nucnfot- U ITE STAT1 JAMES M. GILSTRAP, or ()AKLAND, CALIFORNIA.-

ELEVATED ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

To all whom it may cortcern:

Be it known that -I, JAMES M. GILSTRAP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful ways, of which the following is aspecificatiOn. l

My invention relates to elevated electric :0 railways.

The objects of the present invention are the provision of an elevated railway which will occupy a minimum area along the right of way and at the stations and terminals;

.5 which will have an improved terminal arrangement whereby machine shops, carbarns, and other properties which ordinarily require additional ground-space may be arranged one above the other at the terminals,

2 thereby greatly economizing on the required acreage; to provide novel supporting-columnsfor'the rails; a novel arrangement of braces and supports for the rails themselves;

make provision for upper and lower tracks,

so that both freight and passenger service may be carried on; provide for novel 'means of sustaining the cars from the tracks, so that the strains are distributed to the best advantage derailment prevented; great speed ren- 3 dered possible with minimum vibration, and

bracing of the car-bodies obtained.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of novel switches; turn-table facilities for enabling the carsto be run continuously without reversal; improved trolley means for conducting the electrical current to the cars; novel means whereby telephonic communication may be had with the cars and from the cars to other points for the convenience 4 of the passengers andfor signaling, if desired; and the invention otherwise. has for its aims the provision ofan elevated street-railway system which will be of comparatively low cost of installment and maintenance and will provide for the greatest convenience and safety of its passengers and rapidity of transportation of passengers and freight. I

The invention is set forth fully hereinafter, and the novel features are recited in the 5 claims.

i In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a station and a terminal; Fig. 2, a plan View of Fig. 1; Fig.3, an end elevation. partly in section; Fig. 4, a detail side elevation of a passenger-car; Fig.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed m 31, 190 serial No. 328,506.

' Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

5, a detail plan View of a switch; Fig. 6, a Vertical section of Fig. 5, and Fig.7 a detail of the trolley. Y

At suitable distances apart the elevated i structure is supported by columns or posts 1 Improvements in Flevated Electric Railof box-like form made of metal'plates riveted or bolted together. These posts. are sunk several feet in the ground in anenlarged hole at the bottom of which is-first placed a steel plate 2 on which the columns 1 rest. Concrete or cement 3 is filled in the hole around the post and tamped. The post 1 is also tamped therein from top to bottom. This cal: ses great rigidity'and strength, as well as long life, to the'posts or columns. Extending laterally from the "supporting-columns 1 by braces 5.- The cross-arms 4 are of boxlike or'hollow construction, and the braces 5. may also be similarly made. e

As the cars arev suspended from above and supported from beneath, upper and lower tracks'6 and 7 are provided. These tracks have central guard-flanges 8 above and below and lateral double-tread flanges 9 above and below. It will be understood that an upper track 6 and a lower track 7 on one side of the posts or columns 1 constitute the track construction for cars traveling on that side. The uppersets of tracks are for passengercars and the lower tracksfor freight-cars. Intermediate the posts or columns 1 the tracks are braced" by crossed braces 10.

Where a station is provided, the tracks are the cross-braces 10; but additional braces 10 are provided. Extending from one column to the next one, where the station is provided, is a platform 11 along opposite sides of which the cars run on the respective tracks. The passengers have access to the platform 11 by spiral stairways 12, which wind aroundthe columns 1 at opposite ends of the platform 11 and lead thereto from the street. The stairway at one end of the station being used for ascending passengers and the stairway at the other end for .descendin passengers, the first stairway will be contro led from the booth or ticket-office by an automatic le ver which operates a gate or door at the foot of the stairs, so that the ticket agent may open the ate to admit the proper persons, but to exc ude others. Provision may also filled with concrete or cement, which is firmly are arms 4, which are riveted or bolted to the side flanges of the columns and are sustained spread farther apart, being still connected by be made for passengers to reach the platforms 11 by having an elevator in the building opposite the station and providing a screened gangway from the elevator to the track with a telescopic gangway to run out to track 17 is supported from the columns by arms 18, and the tracks are gradually spread and merge into the circular track 17, which at the same time.

constitutes a turn-table by which the cars may be run around onto the opposite track for the return trip. Underneath the circular track .17 is a similar track 19 to serve as 'a turn-table for the freightcars. Underneath the turn-table 19 is the car-barn and machines 10p.

To enable the'passenger and freight cars to he run down from'their respective tracks to the car-barn, there are 'provided the upper side tracks 20 for the passenger-coaches and the lower side tracks 21 for the freight-cars, said side tracks being supported by arms 22 and braces 23, extendin from columns 24, and the side tracks are a so braced from the central columns 1 by braces 25.

The cars can be run down the side tracks and onto transfer-trucks 26, running on tracks 27, and thus the cars may be transferred into the car-barn and machine-shop.

To enable the cars to be switched onto the side tracks 20 and 21, there are provided switches 30 and 31, which are suitably braced at 32 and extend from the cross-arms of one'pillar or column 1 to an adj acent pillar or column 1, the columns 1 being here placed comparatively close together. The switch-sections are adapted to move in opposite directions to connect with the respective side tracks 20, and the switches of both the passenger and freight tracks are shifted To 'eflectzthe movement of the switches,'I provide racks 33 and 44, secured at the proper heights to the columns 1 adjacent the switch-points,- and suitably journaled to the braces oi the switch-sections are vertical shafts 35 and 36, carrying upper gear-segments 37 and 38 and lower gear-segments 39 and 40, gear-segments 37 and 38 meshing with the rack 33 and ear-se cuts 39 and 40 meshing with the rac 34; evers 41 and 42 are secured tothe shafts 35 and 36 for rocking the gear-segments, and these levers are locked by tlie locking mechanism 43 and 44 to hold the switches where shifted.

The passenger-cars are shown at 50, and the freight-cars at 51. Metal straps 52 encircle the car-bodies at desired points thereof and are connected by longitudinally-extending straps 53. Extending upwardly from the center of the straps 52 are hangers 54,-carand 56, which are ooved to fit vertical and lateral flanges 8an 9 of the track-rails above and below.

Secured to the straps 52 underneath the car are supporting-ban ers 5.7, can-yin wheels 58 and 5.9 to.traveI on the upper an lower flanges of y the trackrails. These hangers are braced and secured to the carbody by braces 60. This construction revents any vertical or lateral movement 0 the traction-wheels or of the car and renders accidents from jumping of the trackimpos'sibley-also minimizing vibration and insuring ease of travel. Y I

A third rail or electrical conductor is suitably supported along the trackway, and the trolley which runs thereon is composed -of aroller'71, journaled to arms orhangers 72, which are pivoted to the car, and the trolley is held in contact with the third rail'by a spring 73. The roller 71 is broad so that when the car turns-curves said trolley will A stationary electrical conductor is suspended above the cars and forms a trunkthe car, conductor a trolley 81, carried by ya spring 82.

tacts and is held therea ainst A- telephone 83, .carrie the passengers, motormen, and conductors to be in constant communication with any desired persons'for the convenience of the passengers or to enable the motormen and intendent of the road. I

.The cars have lattice-work or lazy-tong gates at the vestibules thereof which are locked by the conductor, so that itis impossible fora passenger to fall from the .car when in motion, the gates being .opened by the conductor when a station is reached.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In an elevated railway, the combinasupported thereby, and a spir 'als'tairwaysurrounding and supported by theeolumn and leading to the landing.

2. In an elevated railway, the combination with columns located along the-line of the umns, and separate ap roaches located adj acent the respective co umns. e

3. In an elevated,railway,,the combination with columns locatedalong the line-of the railway, of a landing supported by said 001- rying upper and lower traction-wheels 55 always remain inlcontact with the third rail.

line to the telephoneexchange system of the city or other desired point, and with thisconby the car, enables conductors to receive-orders from the super-' Having thus described my invention what I tion with a supporting-colummof a landing ,railway, of a landing supported by said 001- upper and lower trackway-supports, a car, a pair of upper and lower car-wheels connected to the car and traveling on the upper and lower parts of the upper trackway, and a pair of upper and lower car-wheels connectedto the car and traveling on the upper and lower parts of the lower trackway.

5. In an elevated railway, the combination with columns having upper and lower lateral trackwaj -supports, of upper and lower trackways eacn comprising upper and lower vertical flanges and lateral flanges and connected, respectively, to said upper and lower trackway-supports, a car, a pair of upper and lower car-wheels connected to the car and grooved to conform to the upper trackway and traveling thereon, and a pair of upper and lower car-wheels connected to the car and grooved to conform to the lower trackway and traveling thereon.

6. In an elevated railway, the combination with upper and lower trackways and supports therefor, of a car, bands or straps encircling the car at different points thereof, upper and lower car-wheels connected to the tops of said bands and traveling on the upper trackway, and upper and lower carwheels traveling on the lower trackway.

7. An elevated railway having going and returning -track-rails merging into a circular terminal traclerail.

8. An elevated railway having up er and lower going and returning track-rai s for a train or car to travel on, and upper and lower circular terminal track-rails merging into said upper and lower going and returning track-rails. I

9. An elevated railway having going and returning tracks merging into a circular terminal track, and a side track leading to another level of the terminal.

10. An elevated railway having going and returning tracks merging into a circular ter minal track, side tracks leading, respectively, from the going and returning tracks to another level of the terminal, and nieans for transferring the car from one side track to the other.

11.. An elevated railway having going and. returning tracks merging into a circular terminal track, side tracks leading, respectively, from the going and returning tracks to oppo site sides of the terminal at another level thereof, and means for transferring the car from one side track to the other transversely of the terminal track.

12. In an elevated railway, the combination with supporting-columns, of upper and lowertrackways representing different railroads, of upper andlower trackways representin different railroads corresponding to the a 'oresaid railroads, upper and lower switches connected together and adapted for simultaneous shifting, or throwing, and means for simultaneously shifting or throwing said connected switches.

13. In an elevated railway, the combination with upper and lower trackways and supports therefor, of a car, bands or straps encirclin the car at different points thereof, car-whee s connected to the tops of said bands and traveling on the upper trackway, and car-wheels traveling on the lower track- 11. In an elevated railway, the combination with columns having upper and lower lateral traclnvay-supports, of upper and lower tr ackways,'each comprising a vertical flange and lateral flanges and connected, respectively, to said upper and lower trackwaY- supports, a car, car-wheels connected to the car and grooved to conform to the upper trackway and traveling thereon, and carwheels connected to the car and grooved to conform to the lower trackway and traveling thereon.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M GILSTRAP. I I 

